Improvements in LED technology offer energy savings and décor flexibility
If you haven’t seen or experienced the improvements in lighting technology over the past three years, you owe it to yourself to get out and experience the technological advancements firsthand before you start a renovation project.
“The switch to LED technology has rocked the industry in many ways, especially with the discontinuation of incandescent lamps,” says Kyle Smith, who along with his brother, Evan, represents the third generation of family ownership of A&S Electrical Supply in Erlanger. “It used to be that many people were being forced into using LED technology, but now it’s become a very welcome change, especially with the improvements in technology. The lifespan and cost are now all within easy reach.
“And we are able to do a lot with LEDs today that was not possible just a few years ago. We are better able to hide lights in appliances like fans. Where once you might need a large globe and a lot of wattage, we can put out the same amount of lumens with a much smaller lamp.”
Just in case you are unfamiliar with lighting technologies, an incandescent bulb is basically the old-fashioned screw-in light bulb that many of us grew up with. They are not very efficient and don’t last very long. Compact fluorescent bulbs are the spiral bulbs marketed as being more energy efficient. LED bulbs today are very energy efficient, but with today’s technology, can still maintain the look and feel of an incandescent bulb.
“In terms of LED lighting, you basically have two options,” says Smith, who estimates that over 95% of his company’s sales are now LED. “You can get an LED that is part of a fixture or an LED bulb that is a replacement for a bulb in a screw in lamp.”
The most obvious advantage of the LED is that they save energy and last longer, he adds.
“Where you might have been replacing an incandescent bulb every 2,500 hours, with an LED it’s more like 25,000 hours,” Smith says. “An LED also uses significantly less energy than their incandescent equivalent. An incandescent bulb might use 60 watts, where an LED is only using around 6.5 watts while giving off the same amount of light—so your energy usage is much less.”
Which really helps save money in the long term, allowing the LED to easily pay for itself over the course of time.
Today’s LED bulbs and fixtures also offer a greater degree of décor flexibility.
“With LEDs you can also get into variations like softer white colors, or even daylight shades of light,” says Smith. “And many times these can give off more light than their incandescent counterparts.”
With the advancements in lighting technology occurring almost daily, you really need to get out and see how the technology is changing, especially if you’re updating the décor in your home. A&S Electrical Supply has a showroom where you can see the latest in LED technology as well as a staff with the knowledge and experience to help advise you if you’re doing a DIY project.
Founded in 1969 by Robert Ash and Lawrence Smith, A&S Electric Supply also has built a strong reputation with both large and small contractors and can help you find the right company for a more complex project. Located in Erlanger, Kentucky, the company is a supplier of residential and commercial lighting products, electrical supplies and hardware. And it provides free delivery inside of the Interstate 275 loop of the Tristate area of Cincinnati, Kentucky and Indiana.
